Tour News
South Korea: Sang-Moon Bae, it’s time to enlist
Sang-Moon Bae is currently second in the FedEx Cup standings thanks to his win at the Frys.com Open, but it doesn’t look like he’ll be able to improve upon that position in the new year. The native South Korean has reportedly been denied an extension for his overseas travel permit and is now facing military conscription in his home country.
As the Yonhap News Agency reported:
Under South Korean laws, Bae must return to South Korea within 30 days of the visa’s expiration for conscription, or he could face criminal charges.
All able-bodied South Korean men between the ages of 18 and 35 must serve in the armed forces for about two years. The country remains technically at war with North Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War that ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty.
Also under the conscription laws, men between 25 and 35 who have not yet completed their compulsory service require a special permit to stay overseas.
Does Bae have a hope of avoiding or forestalling military service and playing in the 2015 Masters, which he’s already qualified for?
Maybe, it seems.
The country’s Military Manpower Administration reportedly can extend a citizen’s permission to stay overseas for up to three years if that citizen has acquired permanent overseas residency and lived in the country in question for a year or more, according to Alex Myers of Golf Digest.
According to Bae’s attorneys, the golfer “should still be considered an overseas resident who has spent a year or more in the United States after getting his residency.”
Thus, Bae may have some hope of competing on the PGA Tour this season.
We’ll continue to monitor how this unique situation unfolds.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 PGA Championship
GolfWRX is on site this week at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, for the PGA Championship.
While we see fewer equipment changes and new gear seeding at major championships, we get a look at custom gear and looks into the bags of players we rarely see, which is just as exciting. In the case of the PGA Championship, this means a look at the gear some of the PGA Professionals who qualified for the tournament will be gaming, and LIV players, such as Jon Rahm and Patrick Reed.
Check out links to all our albums from Valhalla below and check back throughout the week as we continue to update.
General Albums
WITB Albums
- Michael Block – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Patrick Reed – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Cam Smith – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brooks Koepka – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Josh Speight – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Takumi Kanaya – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Kyle Mendoza – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Adrian Meronk – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jordan Smith – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jeremy Wells – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jared Jones – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- John Somers – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Larkin Gross – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Tracy Phillips – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jon Rahm – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Keita Nakajima – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Kazuma Kobori – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- David Puig – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Ryan Van Velzen – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brad Marek – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Chris Gotterup – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Rich Beem WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Phil Mickelson – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Matt Dobyns – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Lucas Herbert – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jason Dufner – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- John Daly – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Taylor Gooch – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Dean Burmester – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Joaquin Niemann – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Dustin Johnson – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
Pullout Albums
- Ping putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Bettinardi covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Cameron putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Max Homa – Titleist 2 wood – 2024 PGA Championship
- Scotty Cameron experimental putter shaft by UST – 2024 PGA Championship
- Joaquin Niemann – new Ping putter – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brooks Koepka’s new Cameron putter – 2024 PGA Championship
- Rickie Fowler’s Cobra bag and Aerojet driver – 2024 PGA Championship
- Super Stroke grip – 2024 PGA Championship
- Tiger Woods – 2024 PGA Championship
- Michael Block’s new TaylorMade “Proto” 7-iron, from address – 2024 PGA Championship
- Odyssey putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
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News
Photos from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
GolfWRX is live this week at the Wells Fargo Championship as a field of the world’s best golfers descend upon Charlotte, North Carolina, hoping to tame the beast that is Quail Hollow Club in this Signature Event — only Scottie Scheffler, who is home awaiting the birth of his first child, is absent.
From the grounds at Quail Hollow, we have our usual assortment of general galleries and WITBs — including a look at left-hander Akshay Bhatia’s setup. Among the pullout albums, we have a look inside Cobra’s impressive new tour truck for you to check out. Also featured is a special look at Quail Hollow king, Rory McIlroy.
Be sure to check back throughout the week as we add more galleries.
General Albums
- 2024 Wells Fargo Championship – Monday #1
- 2024 Wells Fargo Championship – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Wells Fargo Championship – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Akshay Bhatia – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Matthieu Pavon – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Keegan Bradley – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Webb Simpson – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Emiliano Grillo – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Taylor Pendrith – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Kevin Tway – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
Pullout Albums
- New Cobra equipment truck – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Rory McIlroy – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- New Cobra equipment truck – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Eric Cole’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Custom Cameron putter – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Matt Kuchar’s custom Bettinardi – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Justin Thomas – driver change – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Rickie Fowler – putter change – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Rickie Fowler’s new custom Odyssey Jailbird 380 putter – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Tommy Fleetwood testing a TaylorMade Spider Tour X (with custom neck) – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Cobra Darkspeed Volition driver – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
See what GolfWRXers are saying about our Wells Fargo Championship photos in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
GolfWRX is on site this week in McKinney, Texas, at the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson (FKA the AT&T Byron Nelson).
Last year at TPC Craig Ranch, Jason Day ended a five-year winless streak. J-Day is in the field again, as are Jordan Spieth, Tom Kim, and Will Zalatoris.
We have our usual assortment of general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums for your perusal. As always, we’ll continue to add links to additional albums as they make their way to us from the Lone Star State.
Check out links to all our photos below.
General Albums
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #1
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #2
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #1
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #2
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Pierceson Coody – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Kris Kim – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- David Nyfjall – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Adrien Dumont de Chassart – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Jarred Jetter – North Texas PGA Section Champ – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Richy Werenski – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Wesley Bryan – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Parker Coody – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Peter Kuest – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Blaine Hale, Jr. – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Kelly Kraft – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Rico Hoey – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Pullout Albums
- Adam Scott’s 2 new custom L.A.B. Golf putters – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Scotty Cameron putters – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Ben Griffin playing Maxfli golf ball
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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jj
Feb 2, 2015 at 3:30 pm
He needs to go do his duty. Enough taking American dollars unless you deserve it. Your not an American so GO!
DH
Jan 14, 2015 at 6:31 pm
I am Korean and I know what kind of “military” duty SMB will serve. He will serve as a “Golf Man”. Top Korean male golf professionals serve as golf man at different army golf courses. They teach general officers and play golf with them. His monthly salary during the service will be around 100 bucks. SMB should stay in the US and stay focused on his PGA career.
kiisd
Jan 2, 2015 at 5:08 am
SMB is not going to win the Masters anyway…go for the military training
Joe Go
Jan 1, 2015 at 11:02 pm
Army drills, Sir! Nice knowin’ ya, Sang; we’ll be here when you get back.
travis
Dec 31, 2014 at 9:40 pm
If he played StarCraft he would get an exemption for sure.
Craig
Dec 31, 2014 at 1:56 pm
Get over there and serve your country. Don’t be a sissy this is your country . And get out of ours
Jeremy
Dec 31, 2014 at 5:43 pm
Wow. Gentleman’s game, dude. Get off this website, please.
Rich
Dec 31, 2014 at 10:04 pm
Racist much?
Jimmy
Jan 3, 2015 at 9:43 am
And the award for most ignorant American goes to Craig! Congratulations, you are pathetic!
Mlecuni
Jan 3, 2015 at 4:47 pm
This website needs some moderators !
Btw for your information, if there wasnt the military thing of two years for korean males, the top 50 world golf ranking would look like the womens one, trusted by koreans because they are that good.
John
Jan 4, 2015 at 4:09 am
No moderators, please. Let’s value freedom of speech.
Mark
Jan 4, 2015 at 9:32 pm
Best comment
TD
Dec 31, 2014 at 1:45 pm
Nothing says “we place no value on the rights of an individual to live life as free thinking entity, free to choose his own path, that being his birthright as a human being” like forced military service. It’s pathetic. Should my own government EVER tell me I had to enlist, I’d find a new government to reside under. Thankfully here in Canada, the government respects the rights of the individual and our military service is voluntary.
If the guy wants to play golf, he should be allowed. Forget as a South Koren, he should play golf because he’s a human being and no government should ever have the authority to take away his right to choose.
John Glenn
Jan 1, 2015 at 2:18 pm
Nicely said TD, often times to many people fail to see what their own government is mandating and taking away from them with more and more laws and rules to obey to and follow. Unfortunately a lot of people conform to this because of the trickery/manipulation of the truth that somehow you or your children will benefit so people automatically assume it’s okay, which in fact it’s not. I call this average awareness.
John
Jan 4, 2015 at 4:12 am
We each have a responsibility to support the society that provides things like golf, security, and opportunity. I say, bring back the draft.
Dan Caraherr
Dec 31, 2014 at 11:56 am
Needs to go out and grow a pair .
AndyB
Dec 30, 2014 at 9:27 pm
I’m willing to bet he doesn’t serve. Not until after olympics anyway. I see South Korea coming up with some exception or extension for him to be able to participate in Masters, Presidents Cup, and Olympics. If they don’t, I can see him seeking citizenship elsewhere. I see both sides of the situation, but I am leaning towards him not having to serve or choosing not to. If they give exemptions for other athletes, then I do not see why he should not be able to do the same. Now if it was a hard fast rule that everyone does, unless physical or mental disability, then I would say yes, serve, but it takes away from the patriotism of serving your country when athletes are exempted for sports. Besides true patriotism is volunteering for service, not being forced to because of a law and it potentially ruining your life if you don’t obey it. That is what makes serving so special. I know South Korea is different from the U.S. though.
Christian
Jan 3, 2015 at 12:46 am
From what I understand it really is a must for every able bodied male to do military service in South Korea, there have been many examples of various superstars, movie stars or other celebrities being forced to do it.
????
Dec 30, 2014 at 8:39 pm
The war is still going on in Korea, it never officially ended. There was an armistice, but has be retracted like 9 times, I think most recent was back in 2013.
SMB should serve, it is his duty to his country. He is not the only successful person that has had to serve, as you see lots of K-Pop stars and other celebs enter the military to do their time on the reg. Also I am pretty sure KJ and YE would also tell this SM to go and do his time.
dr. bloor
Dec 30, 2014 at 8:52 pm
The South Korean government would appear to have the letter of the law on their side, but let’s not pretend that they think it some moral imperative that every able-bodied citizen serve. If you win a gold medal in the Olympic or Asian games, you’re eligible for an exemption. There’s been some conflict in recent years between the military and the Korean Olympic Committee as to whether this practice should continue, but the law is unchanged.
In the past, this has allowed Shin-Soo Choo to continue his baseball career in the U.S. after putting in all of 20 plate appearances for the 2010 Asian Games gold medal squad. Ironically enough, the government has also exempted athletes who have won Asian Games medals for….pistol shooting. Hell, they even gave exemptions to the 2012 soccer team after winning bronze at the Olympics. You know, third place.
Uhuh
Dec 31, 2014 at 3:17 pm
On the contrary. Ive worked for both SMB and KJ and It was actually KJ who was advising him on how he might be able to go about avoiding service.
enrique
Dec 30, 2014 at 4:56 pm
Paul is lost. Unfortunate that he doesn’t see past the 1950’s.
Progolfer
Dec 30, 2014 at 4:48 pm
I cannot believe the responses I’ve read regarding this story so far. For those of you saying he should serve, are you kidding me?! He is much more valuable serving his country playing the PGA Tour and as one of the best players in the world than with a gun on his back. On Tour, he can raise money for his country and raise awareness for the war being waged. In a uniform, he is just another individual. Why ruin his life and force him to serve when he can be so much more helpful on Tour? Also, what about the Olympics is 2016? If he serves, he can forget about representing his country in them. Yet another reason showing how corrupt Korea is and yet another topic showing the ignorance of the people commenting on this site. Pathetic.
kev
Dec 30, 2014 at 5:25 pm
that opens up a can of worms for everyone else in korea with reason. no one part is bigger than the whole.
Progolfer
Dec 30, 2014 at 5:33 pm
If every part was the best it could be and where it should be, the whole would be the best it could be and where it should be.
Kyle
Dec 30, 2014 at 7:11 pm
Do you really think him playing on the pga tour is more important than his country? Just because it’s an odd rule doesn’t mean anything. Rules are rules are rules. I definitely don’t agree with the rule, but everyone in South Korea has to abide by it, with few exceptions of course. The U.S. has similar rules themselves where service time is required regardless of being a pro athlete. It happened to a hockey player recently.
Hanguk
Dec 30, 2014 at 8:54 pm
Raise money for his country?? Really, Korea is 14th on the GDP list, it is not a 3rd world country. What about the future CEO’s of the people who really bring money to the country (Hyundai, Samsung, POSCO), they shouldn’t serve either because they should be studying.
Also I highly doubt 18 months in the military is going to ruin his life, put it on hold yes, but ruin it no. Most likely the guy comes from money (it is quite expensive to play here), so even if he is not the same caliber player when he gets out he is going to be comfortable.
Nobody really talks about PGA players over here anyways, YE was popular after the major win, but you still only see KJ posters and billboards everywhere. Koreans take much more pride in swimming, ice skating, speed skating, and soccer.
Yes he probably would miss the Olympics and probably miss out on the Presidents Cup (in Korea this year) but knowing that this is something that he had to complete. He should have enlisted in to the Army earlier in his life…
Ignorant savage
Dec 31, 2014 at 1:54 am
Some interesting points…
How much money has he raised for his “country” and where has it gone?
What has he done with his tour fame to bring attention to the “war being waged”?
Bummer about the Olympics. But I understand some feel that being a famous Olympian is more important than being a mere soldier defending his country.
Korea is a democratic country with elected officials, a party system and branches much like the United States.
Can you please cite some examples of how much more corrupt Korea is as compared to other democratic countries? Maybe cite how low they are in the democracy index? Or how low they are in comparison to personal wealth and education with other democracies?
Or…. Maybe you could at least Wiki the country in question before calling other people ignorant…..
Jeremy
Dec 30, 2014 at 3:48 pm
I think SMB is a much greater asset to his country as a golfer performing at the highest level than just another body to put in the line of fire. Perhaps that should change if South Korea were to find itself in an actual war. But in times of peace there are far better ways to serve one’s country, and he’s doing that.
EH
Dec 30, 2014 at 2:54 pm
If he wants to remain as Korean and live in Korea, he has to serve.
Quoted from Wiki “Exemptions are granted to Korean male citizens with physical disabilities or whose mental status is unstable or questionable.” Bae Sang-Moon is capable of serving in the military for full 21 months. He should serve the country he is representing with pride and honor. Just bad timing for him!
Double Mocha Man
Dec 30, 2014 at 11:59 am
I’m a big fan of Sang-Moon Bae. Great kid. And I’m not a big fan of the military and war. But he should serve. Because he’s talented, famous and wealthy (relative to most of his countrymen) should not get him a pass.
I was in Miami attempting to hone my golf game to a tour level when I was conscripted into the U.S. Army. Lucky for me I had to serve out my two years in Hawaii. And my base had a golf course!
Paul H
Dec 30, 2014 at 11:50 am
“Unique situation”? Thousands of Americans died protecting his country. He needs to get home and walk the line, and do his time.
D man
Dec 30, 2014 at 11:56 am
Instead of just spouting patriotic nonsense, stop and think. How does this have anything to do with American involvement in the Korean War?
Jimmy
Dec 30, 2014 at 2:28 pm
Completely agree. “Patriotism is the virtue of the Vicious” – Oscar Wilde.
Mark
Jan 4, 2015 at 9:36 pm
Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel- Samuel Johnson
Awedge333
Dec 30, 2014 at 6:18 pm
Yea, military service,….. look what it did for ELVIS!!! 1,2,3,4 Occupation GI Blues. Paul, you are correct!